MovieChat Forums > House of the Dragon (2022) Discussion > Some really odd writing and creative dec...

Some really odd writing and creative decisions in this series (spoilers)

posted 2 years ago by JakeSWITCH (504)
6 replies | jump to latest

Aside from some odd creative decisions (the big time jump mid-season leading to recasting some actors, putting make-up on others, while keeping others looking as if they haven't aged a day), it feels like the writers don't know how to flesh out George RR Martin's 'Fire & Blood' with real characterization.

You have the show opening with an expository voiceover to dump information on the viewer, the Crabfeeder being built-up as a villain and defeated off-screen, Ser Criston Cole beating Joffrey to death in the middle of a celebration with no repercussions (he killed him during a tournament in the book), Larys being revealed as a psychopathic mastermind with zero backstory given, Laena and Harwin getting a few scenes before being confusingly roasted, etc.

Personally, I think 'House of the Dragon' should have either initiated the ten year time jump at the beginning of Season 2 and spent more time fleshing out its cast of characters, or simply began the series with Episode 6 and referred to the previous events in conversation ('Game of Thrones' rarely used flashbacks until the show's quality started to dip).

'Fire & Blood' should have been prime material for an adaptation, since its essentially a lot of ideas and framework that can be filled in with dialogue and character development. Unfortunately, considering how hotly anticipated this series was, the execution has been strangely muddled so far.

Don't even get me started on the rat, something Martin Scorsese was laughed at for including in 'The Departed' because of its blunt symbolism but is being used as an ongoing motif here...

[–] Philhelm (472) 2 years ago

I've enjoyed the show so far, but my biggest gripes have been a three year siege against the Crabfeeder (I think the situation could have been explained/handled better and even started a thread on that) and Ser Criston ruining a hugely important wedding without consequence.

The time jump and character switches have been jarring, but I view the first few episodes as a sort of prologue and assume (hope) that the show will now run in real time. I think the problem is that the show had to introduce the characters of Rhaenyra and Alicent when they were still young to establish the succession issue. From what I know of the books, it seems that the challenge is that we as the audience wouldn't want to focus on the ten years we skipped, so I understand the decision.

Overall, the main problem is that the source material is more of an afterthought to Martin's primary story. Game of Thrones had a more colorful cast of characters with a more fleshed out storyline and dialogue. I still like the show so far, but it is what it is.

[–] JakeSWITCH (504) 2 years ago

From what I gather, episode 8 of 'House of the Dragon' will feature another big time jump that will replace the child actors with young adults but, once again, keep the other actors looking almost exactly the same.

From the hurried pacing between episodes, you would think this was a limited series, and not an ongoing one, as was previously announced.

[–] MartyDeniro (4042) 2 years ago

It isn't.

[–] stickman38 (3011) 2 years ago

It's not a limited series. Season 2 has already been confirmed. Link....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-dragon-season-two-confirmed-151348090.html

[–] winslow (1318) 2 years ago

They are gonna do 2-5 seasons with the last season possibly going back to Aegon's conquest.

[–] brux (14666) 2 years ago

I have to agree with all your evaluation and criticisms. I was not sure I wanted to watch this when it came out, but since I have HBOmax I started it a couple of weeks after it debuted. Initially I liked it, but it's like it just went haywire, and too much for me to want to follow. Too many characters looked the same - and with the switchover between actors ... I just don't want to be bothered. I am just irritated as I watch it since Episode 5. I guess I just don't care.